The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the largest long-term investment in
our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. The need for action in
New Mexico is clear and recently released state-level data demonstrates that the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for New Mexico. For decades,
infrastructure in New Mexico has suffered from a systemic lack of investment.
While the nation’s infrastructure earned a C- in the 2021 Infrastructure Report Card,
New Mexico faces infrastructure challenges of its own. The historic Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act will make life better for millions of New Mexico residents,
create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and
position the United States to win the 21st century.
To date, $2.2 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced
and is headed to New Mexico with over 174 specific projects identified for
funding. Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed, New Mexico will receive
approximately $1.6 billion for transportation to invest in roads, bridges, public
transit, ports and airports and roughly $75 million for clean water. And, as of today,
more than 175,000 households across the state are receiving affordable highspeed internet due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Many more projects will
be added in the coming months, as funding opportunities become grant awards
and as formula funds become specific projects. By reaching communities across
New Mexico – including rural communities and historically underserved
populations – the law makes critical investments that will improve lives for New
Mexicans and position the state for success.
Specifically, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make the following investments:
- Roads and Bridges. In New Mexico there are 207 bridges and over 3,822 miles of highway in poor condition. Over 5% of New Mexico’s bridges are in poor condition and considered structurally deficient. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 7.7% in New Mexico and on average, each driver pays $767 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. New Mexico’s DOT estimates a $15.8 billion funding gap in its Bridge and Highway budgets by 2045.
- Based on formula funding alone, New Mexico would expect to receive $2.5 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five (5)
years.
- New Mexico can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program
for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national
funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial
economic benefits to communities.
- Rail and Transit. New Mexico’s public transit systems serve a vital role in
connecting the state’s residents to jobs, health care, and other critical
services. Residents of New Mexico who take public transportation spend an
extra 94.3% of their time commuting. 20% of trains and other transit vehicles in
the state are past useful life.
- Based on formula funding alone, New Mexico would expect to receive $366 million over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state.
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. The IIJA invests $7.5 billion to build out the first-ever national network of EV chargers in the United States.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, New Mexico would expect to receive $38 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.
- New Mexico will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
- Broadband. Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs,
to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected.
10.7% of New Mexicans live in areas where, under the FCC’s benchmark,
there is no broadband infrastructure. Even where infrastructure is available,
broadband may be too expensive to be within reach. 21% of New Mexico
households do not have an internet subscription.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, New Mexico will receive
a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband
coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least
223,941 residents who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, 785,000 or 38.1% of people in New Mexico will
be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
- Clean Water/Wastewater. The law contains nearly $44 billion to strengthen the
nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems, remove lead pipes and
service lines, and eliminate harmful contaminants through the EPA’s State
Revolving Funds programs. These programs, administered by the states, make
grants and loans eligible to communities for drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure investments. New Mexico reports a $1.4 billion drinking water
investment gap.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, New Mexico will expect to receive $355 million over five (5) years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
- Airports. New Mexico is home to 10 major airports that will benefit from the $25 billion in increased airport infrastructure funding provided over five (5) years from the IIJA.
- Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, airports in New Mexico would receive approximately $90 million for infrastructure development for airports over five (5) years.
- Grid and Clean Energy Infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
through the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, is focused on
working across the public and private sectors to help the U.S. transition to the
clean energy economy. With more than $75 billion in investments through the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, New Mexico will benefit from multiple
opportunities focused on the rapid commercialization, demonstration, and
deployment of clean energy technologies. DOE is playing a critical role in
efforts to rapidly lower energy costs, slash carbon emissions, and create new
industries with the high-quality union jobs that are guaranteed to boost
domestic manufacturing capabilities while strengthening U.S. global
competitiveness.
